"Tracing Our Roots" Newsletter Archive (A monthly genealogy newsletter written by the late Brenda Kellow, dec'd, for the Plano Star Courier newspaper. We've included all the ones we could recover.)
Family time is almost here. There will be turkey, dressing (probably cornbread dressing), mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, gravy, cranberries and more dessert than any of us need to eat. But most of all it will be delicious. There is something so comforting about the Thanksgiving meal with family and friends.
How does your family celebrate the holiday? Do you just visit and eat yourself into oblivion, or do you also make it a constructive time of learning and recording stories of times gone by?
It is certainly the time to get those family recipes. If there are none, then record the usual meal in times past. What did your family do back in the olden times? My family brought musical instruments or used those on the premises to play, sing and maybe even break out in a dance or two. They also played bingo with kernels of corn. They rounded up and rode the horses out back. Sometimes there was even a game of touch football.
Find out and record what was the old tradition in your family and compare it to today s version. A comparative history is always fun to read. Put that with a chapter on one family. Add a pedigree chart, and you have great presents for Christmas. And it is something that won t get tossed after the tree comes down in late December.
Now is the time to begin a gift list. Add genealogy books and cute little ditties from www.funstuffforgenealogists.com/store/enter. I just love Fun Stuff s Cite Your Sources sticky notes, skeleton note pads, fun cards and such for under $5. They have tree jewelry, charts, baby stuff, maps, etc. Their prices are just right for giving.
Last week I told you about Generation Maps. My 51 generation study came and it is fantastic. These are at an affordable price and the owner talked to me this week saying they can guarantee delivery by Christmas if the order is in before December 1. They have gift charts and working charts that are prepared to your liking. After one chart is made, they make additional copies at 50 percent off the original price. What a bargain. Off their new improved Website you can order gift certificates and redeem them as well. They have also added a viewing feature to the site. Now you can log into your personal Web page and approve your chart before it is printed. You can contact them at http://www.generationmaps.com or by email at orders@generationmaps.com.
Books are great to select from Amazon.com. You can set up your own personal Web site of hopeful gifts and send the link to family and friends. I always give them the full information on the books and the Web site where it is featured as well. That makes it easy for them to log on, see the item, add it to their cart, and pay. It almost makes shopping too easy!
I also like to use Willow Bend Books for military selections. They have genealogy books on almost every topic, but their military selection is tops. Clearfield and Genealogy Publishing Company, www.genealogical.com, are old favorites. When I am buying my own book, I always log onto www.fetchbook.com and hunt for the best price. They also have used books that I find at reasonable prices and in excellent condition.
Selecting gifts for others is always fun, as well as making a list for myself. Don t let the holidays go any further without using those family get-togethers and shortened daylight hours for assessing how these can be used to your advantage, genealogically speaking.
SATURDAY LECTURES
Just in time for planning research trips after the first of the year are the three lectures at the Gladys Harrington Library this Saturday, November 20. Speakers are Barbara Coakley, Lynne Darrouzet and yours truly. The lectures are free and open to the public. Doors open at 9:10 and lectures begin at 9:30. Genealogy Friends provides coffee and goodies. It finishes by noon. You are invited to join the speakers at TGI Friday s for lunch.
Brenda Kellow, dec'd, Certified Genealogist and Certified Genealogical Instructor, had a Bachelor s Degree in history and taught genealogy courses at the local Community College and computer genealogy at the University.
